The first National Material Handling Show launched by the Materials Handling Industry (MHI) in 1948 was a result of new methods used to transport goods during World War II. That first show in Cleveland had 60,000 net square feet and approximately 3,000 attendees.

During the early years, the annual event moved around to various ‘industrial’ locations, including Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Chicago, Baltimore, and San Francisco. Detroit’s show in 1974 was the first to hit six-figure net square footage. Exhibits included industrial trucks, cranes, monorails, shelving, loading dock equipment, and conveyors.

Throughout the history of MHI, the annual expos have provided attendees with the latest developments in managing the flow of materials and products through the supply chain from manufacturing and distribution to consumption and disposal.

Today’s exhibitors include not only traditional equipment manufacturers, but also modern technology such as automated storage and retrieval systems, radio frequency directed technology, bar coding, smart cranes, robots and more.

The ProMat brand evolved from the slogan ‘Productivity through Material Handling,’ and became the official show name in 1985 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. ProMat is now held every odd-numbered year in Chicago.

For the first time in 2017, ProMat will have exhibits in both the South and North Halls of McCormick Place. Over 850 exhibitors will fill the two halls, totaling over 370,000 net square feet, representing all segments of the industry, from traditional manual equipment to computerized, automated .

Prior to launching MODEX, in the alternate years of ProMat MHI held a show called the North American Material Handling Show (often referred to as the NA Show). It launched in Detroit in 1992 and moved to Cleveland in 2004 where it stayed until being retired in 2012.

Because the industry was becoming more global MHI recognized the need to expand the focus to a worldwide audience, so after two years of research MODEX launched in 2012. It is now held during even-numbered years in Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.

“Material handling has been a huge enabler of productivity in both manufacturing as well as distribution,” said Carbott. “Yet some things stay the same which is evidenced by some of the original exhibitors and basic technology that was on display back in 1948 as well.” Two companies – Columbus McKinnon and Yale & Hyster – have been exhibitors for more than 50 years.

Photo courtesy of MODEX (2016 show floor)

Over 28,000 attendees gathered at MODEX this past April, exploring solutions featured by more than 800 exhibitors in 250,000 net square feet. It was recognized as one of the Top 25 Fastest-Growing Shows by TSNN, and true to MODEX’s global focus the participants came from over 100 countries and six continents.

As a part of this year’s MODEX, Student Days introduced over 300 high school and university students and educators to the world of material handling, supply chain and logistics through hands-on learning and a
guided tour of the show floor where they had the ability to see state-of-the-art equipment and network with industry professionals.

Over the years, MHI shows have experienced their share of adventures. At one show in Detroit, Michael Moore showed up unannounced to film for a documentary on General Motors. He was denied entry and was not happy, according to Carbott.

“At one of the early ProMat shows, an exhibitor hired an imitation Beatles Band with an Ed Sullivan impersonator,” said Carbott. “They set up on the top level of a 40-foot-high rack assembly and proceeded to sing at a decibel level of about 130. For four minutes, the show was shut down because nobody could talk or hear. We had to threaten to cut off electricity to the booth because the band was not interested in playing soft. They agreed to one more song and would then leave. That last song was ‘Revolution’ — not funny then, but incredibly funny now.”

With experiences as both an exhibitor and a show organizer, Marlys Arnold has a unique perspective on trade show exhibiting. As an exhibit marketing strategist, she travels the country consulting and training on how to create experiential exhibits that produce significantly higher numbers of qualified leads. She’s led workshops for events ranging from local consumer expos to some of the largest trade shows in the U.S. She hosts the Trade Show Insights blog/podcast, and is the author of Build a Better Trade Show Image, the Exhibitor Education Manifesto, and the ExhibitorEd Success System. Exhibit Design That Works (the first book in the YES: Your Exhibit Success series) debuted in July 2017. She’s also the founder of the Exhibit Marketers Café, an online education community.

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